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The 31-year-old Canadian actor created quite a stir when he attended the St. Catharines campus with his actor girlfriend, Eva Mendes, 38.

The couple sat near the back of the auditorium, often whispering to each other during the ceremony.

When Gosling’s mother, Donna, was called to receive her diploma, he jumped to his feet, clapping and taking pictures.

Fans lined up outside the auditorium and a fan frenzy on Twitter caused Brock University to trend in the Top 10 topics on the popular social networking site.

When approached by The Standard, Gosling was affable. He smiled, but said he wasn’t doing interviews.

“This is my mom’s day,” he said.

Gosling, an Oscar-nominated actor who has starred in more than 30 movies including The Notebook, Half Nelson, Drive, and The Ides of March, left the ceremony early so he wouldn’t disturb the proceedings. Mendes left soon after.

They met up in a room where graduates went following the event.

“He requested privacy for himself and his family,” said university spokesman Kevin Cavanagh. “He told me this was his mom’s day and the graduates’ day. He didn’t want to be a diversion.”

Gosling, who wore a burgundy sweater and black jeans, playfully fenced with a boy while they waited in the holding room.

Cavanagh said Gosling told him his mother will make a really great teacher. She graduated with a bachelor of education degree, after attending classes in Hamilton.

Cavanagh said Gosling spoke of the important role his mother played in his own development.

“He is very fond of and proud of his mother,” Cavanagh said. “He was beaming.”

Kerri Behling, 21, volunteered to help out at the graduation ceremony after hearing rumours Gosling was going to be there.

She, along with at least a dozen other people, stood on a landing outside the gym, shooting photos of the back of Gosling’s head.

“I’ve never seen a famous person before,” the 21-year-old Brock student said.

Seeing Gosling for her first star sighting made the experience that much better, she said.

“I think he’s the same person as he was in The Notebook,” she laughed. “I’m out here waiting for a proposal.”

When Gosling exited the gym out a side door, a handful of students set off to try and find him, cameras in hand.

Brock students Amy Wilson, 22, Erin Wyhoda, 22, and Nicole Studenny, 23, went outside to stake out the area where they heard Gosling had parked.

They attended the convocation in the hopes of meeting the superstar.

“He walked right by us,” Wyhoda said, noting they all stood there star-struck, not even snapping a picture.

They hoped by waiting outside they’d get a second chance.

Wilson said she saw online Tuesday that Gosling was spotted at Los Angeles International Airport, making her believe the rumours he’d be at Brock were true.

“We didn’t expect Eva Mendes would be with him. Oh my God,” she said.

Studenny said the fact Gosling took time out of his busy Hollywood schedule to attend his mom’s graduation makes her like him even more.

“I like that he’s from Canada,” she said.

Gosling was born in London and attended high school in Burlington.

“He seems like one of those celebrities who is really down to earth,” Studenny said.

Cavanagh said the school wasn’t aware Gosling was coming to the ceremony until paparazzi showed up.

A man could be seen hiding in bushes outside the auditorium, near where Gosling’s vehicle was parked.

Asked what he was doing there, he said “Just go, you’re gonna blow our cover.”

There was no shortage of fan photos on the Internet Wednesday.

Dozens of students posted pictures of Gosling and Mendes on Twitter and mentioned the pair’s visit to St. Catharines.

“The social media phenomenon was remarkable,” Cavanagh said, noting the pride of grads and alumni came through in their tweets.

“It’s great if it helps people feel even better about their university,” he said.

He said the ceremony went off without a hitch.

“It wasn’t overshadowed by the presence of two of the hottest movie stars in the world.”